Shoe-blacking-kit case



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E. D.V SMITH.

SHOE BLAGKING VKIT CASE. No. 413,265. Patented 00L. 22, 1889.

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E. D. SMITH.. SHOE BLACKING KIT. CASE.

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i Patented Oct. 22, 1889.

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SHOE BLAGKING KIT OASE. No. 413,265. Patented Oct. 22. 1889.

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INT/ENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE.

EDWIN D. SMITH, on PITTsBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-BLACKING-KIT CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 413,265, dated. October 22, 1889.

Application iled May l0, 1888. Serial No. 273,425. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN D. SMITH, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny' and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Blacking-Kit Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in blacking-kits, the object of the same being to combine with a hassock or footstool a receptacle for brushes and blacking, said receptacle or hassock having a hinged top adapted when thrown open to operate, through suitable connecting means, legs or supports pivoted to the bottom of the hassock; and myinvention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my combined hassock` A refers to the hassock-frame,which is preferably octagonal in shape, the vertical side pieces being connected to each other'a'nd to the bottom A. The exterior of this case A is covered with suitable textile material-as carpet or ornamental fabric-to give to the same an attractive appearance, and the top isupholstered and cushioned, so that when it is folded it may be used as a seat or footstool. The top has secured theretoa suitable loop o, which engages with a button a', for holding the top closed.

The bottom A is secured to the vertical side pieces at a slight distance above their bottom edges,which provides a space between the bottom edges of the receptacle A and the bottom A within which the legs B B may lie when folded, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full linesin Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. made of cast metal and provided with laterally-projecting offsets,to which one leaf of a hinge is riveted, the opposite leaf being secured to the under side of the bottom A. Above the offsets the upper portions of the legs B are curved and pass through openings in the bottom A', said curved portions projecting toward each other. To opposite legs of each pair are suitably attached blocks or pulleys C, through which a chain D passes,

The legs .B B are preferably groove within which the chain lies, and continues from this casting around the opposite pulley to the opposite leg.

To the legs B, at a point beneath where they are hinged tothe bottom A', the front and rear legs are connected to each other by coiled springs E, which are attached to suitable pins e. Instead of these pins the ends of the springs may pass through an opening or perforation in said legs, as shown in Fig. 1. These springs will have a tendency to fold the legs against the bottom, as shown in dot ted lines, Fig. 2, and hold them in that position when the cover is lowered. They will also have a tendency to draw upon the chain to lower the lid.

To the front vertical sides of the hassock or case A are secured bracket-arms f f, between which is pivoted a flat bar F, to the upper edge of Whichnis secured a foot-rest G. To the upper portion of the rear end of this flat bar F is pivotally secured a link H, which is pivoted at its other end between brackets h h, secured to the under side of the hinged top. The flat bar F has secured at Y its end, beneath the link H, a sliding catch I, vthe front end of which is bent outwardly.

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or beyond the end of thebar. The outer end of the latch engages with a casting J, which is let into the upper edge of one of the sections of the receptacle A, between the hinges which secure the top thereto.

IVhen the lid is closed, the contents of the receptacle are hid from view and the legs B B will be folded against the bottom A to give the device the appearance f an ordinary hassock or footstool.

Vhen it is desired to use the device for blacking shoes, the top is raised, and the chain D, drawing upon the curved proj eetions of the legs, turns them upon their pivots, bringing said legs to a position to support the receptacle in an elevated position. At the same time the end of the flat bar will be raised and assume the position shown in Figs. l and 2, the spring-catch being projected automatically to engage the casting J to hold the top in a raised position, and also prevents said bar lowering when weight is placed upon the foot-rest.

To the inner side of the top of the receptacle are secured spiral springs 7c 7e, for retaining in place a clothes-brush K, while a single spring on the opposite side of the top holds the dauber or blacking-spreader L. The blacking-brush is held by a spring-band m at the bottom of the ease, and the box of blacking is supported upon a suitable shelf N, and is retained thereon by a spring-band n, the ends of which are secured to the inner side of the receptacle A, adjacent to one of the corners thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an ordinary chain applied; but in practice I will use a rounded chain, as it will more readily pass over the pulleys and will not readily bend or kink when the lid is closed.

By securing` the blacking box and brushes with springs they will be prevented from moving in the case, and should the hassock be moved when the lid is closed there will be no rattling or noise to disclose the nature of this article of furniture, and to those unacquainted with it it will pass as an ordinary hassock or footstool.

I cla-inil. The combination, in a blacking-kit, of a receptacle provided with a hinged top, legs flexible connections attached to the upper portion of the legs and to the hinged top for moving said legs away from the bottom when the top is raised, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a blackingkit, of a receptacle having a hinged top, chains connected to said top and passed through pulleys to the inwardly-turned ends of the legs B, the legs being hinged to the under side of the bottom of the receptacle, one of the pair of legs being provided with pulleys, springs connected to said legs beneath the bottom for closing the same, and a pivoted bar carrying a latch for holding the receptacle in a raised position, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a blacking-kit, consisting of a suitable receptacle having a hinged top, and folding legs hinged to the bottom of the receptacle, and flexible connections secured to the top and inner ends of the legs for moving said legs to or from the bottom of the receptacle, a pivoted bar F, connected by a link to the hinged top, and a spring-actuated latch for locking said bar and top in a raised position, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In com oination with a receptacle A, having a bottom A secured above the lower edge thereof, said bottom having openings therein through which the upper ends of the legs pass, legs B B, hinged undersaid bottom and having their upper ends bent inwardly, springs E, for folding said legs against the under side of the bottom, a chain D attached to the opposite legs of each pair, said chain passing through pulleys C C, connected to the other legs and secured to the hinged top of the receptacle, a pivoted bar F, carrying a foot-rest, a link H, connected to said hinged bar and to the top of the receptacle, and a spring actuated latch I, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

6. A combined shoe` blaeking case and hassock consisting of a casing having a fixed bottom, a lid hinged to the top thereof, legs hinged to the bot-tom with their upper curved ends protruding through openings in said bottom, and chains secured at one end to the hinged lid and connected at their other ends to the upper ends of the legs, whereby the legs may be extended to a supporting position by the raising of the lid, substantially as described.

Intestimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN D. SMITH. Vit-n esses:

FRANK. IV. SMITH, WILL. G. HARPER.

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